Desmond Tutu-- Repentance and Forgiveness

Background Check:
Throughout the 1900s South Africa had a government run by those who were racially white, even though the majority of the people were black. Blacks were typically accepting of whites in general, but they wanted to see some changes made in the government. The blacks wanted to be able to vote, they wanted to be able to live without fear, they wanted to have equal police with the whites. Different organizations of blacks were created to get the government to change. But the South African government determined not only that they would oppose these black organizations, but that they would attack, torture and kill those who are participating in those organizations. This oppression of the blacks was called apartheid.

His Story:

A black man named Desmond Tutu was raised in South Africa amidst these injustices. But rather than focusing on protests and violence in response to the government, he would pray and seek God for His justice. He studied in London and became a priest and then a bishop in the Anglican Church. After he became a bishop, Desmond began writing letters to the government calling on them to repent from their evil actions. The government ignored the letters. Then Desmond traveled all over the world to convince other governments and corporations to stop supporting the South African government and its violent policies against blacks. Many governments listened to Desmond and refused to have dealings with the South African government.

At this point, the Anglican church made a radical step. They made Desmond Tutu Archbishop over all of South Africa—in charge of the whole official church in South Africa. This made the South African government infuriated, but there was nothing they could do. Many whites hated Desmond and would call him up to threaten him. He would bless them in Jesus’ name and hang up.

Then, in 1989, a new president was elected in South Africa, Francis de Klerk. Because of how South Africa had suffered under the violence and economic instability under apartheid, de Klerk determined that there needed to be a change. He made it possible for black people to vote and released many black dissidents from prison. Thus, at the next election, an all-black government was elected.

It would have made sense for the new government to do what many other governments had done who were oppressed—to hurt or kill the oppressors. However, the new president, Nelson Mandela, appointed Desmond Tutu over a committee to determine how to respond to the oppressors. Under Desmond’s guidance, the committee was called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. They would listen to the stories of oppression from blacks. Then they would bring in the whites who committed the tortures, violence and acts of hatred. They encouraged the whites to tell the truth, to confess their sin and that they would then be pardoned. Many whites accepted this, and fully spoke the truth before the whole country. They were then forgiven for their sins and allowed to leave freely. To have all of the confessions and pardons took twenty seven months. But in the end, many whites and blacks were reconciled and South Africa was able to exist as a country which welcomed both whites and blacks.

WWJD
Jesus saw his people, both white and black, suffering under aparthaid, and he saw many people doing evil in Jesus’ name, both white and black under this regime of terror. Jesus chose Desmond—already one who knew how to suffer—to make peace among his people. Even as Jesus sought the sinner and called them to repentance, so did Jesus call Desmond to accomplish the same work.

The Final Word (of Men)
Desmond Tutu is still the leader of the Anglican church of South Africa today. He is one of the most respected clergy alive today.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day and turns to you seven times and says, “I repent” you must forgive him. Luke 17:3-4

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:14-15

Helpful Hint: Loving the Unlovable

All of the faithful were hated or attacked at one time or another. But when it happened, they remembered what Jesus said: “Love your enemies.” So they would pray for their enemies and do good to them whenever they had need. Menno Simons taught all the Anabaptists to pray for the rulers that were persecuting them. Therese would find something good to say to those who complained about her. Martin Luther King prayed for the very whites who attacked him. They were consistent in loving—even those who were unloveable.

Check It Out:
Tutu: Voice for the Voiceless by Shelley Du Bois

Martin Luther King, Jr.-- No Favoritism Between Races

Background Check:
In the 1950’s the United States’ governments were run by racially white people, even though in many states most people were black. For almost a hundred years, since blacks had been released from slavery by a civil war, there had been laws which separated the whites from the blacks and restricted blacks from many places and activities that would be of benefit to them. Whites and blacks could not go to school together, they couldn’t drink from the same water fountains, they couldn’t even ride on buses together.

His Story:
A young preacher named Martin Luther King spoke against these injustices, but it didn’t seem that he could do anything—after all, he was black himself and was just a preacher. But when an outrage happened against an older black woman on a bus, then Martin organized protests there in his home town, Montgomery, Alabama. Many blacks followed him and they all publicly protested the segregation of blacks and whites on the buses—which gave the blacks the worst seats in the back. Martin would preach on the steps of city hall, preaching that Jesus taught that all people were the same in the eyes of God, no matter what their race. He also taught that if public policy and laws were insisting on favoritism against one race, then they are standing against Jesus. The bus laws were changed because of these protests and the seats were no longer segregated.

Both blacks and whites understood the power of what had happened. The blacks had a new sense of power and a realization that the Jim Crow laws might be overthrown. Many whites stood with Martin Luther King and wanted to see the favoritism stop. But many other whites were angry with the blacks and with Martin especially because they felt that they were losing their power to rule. Some of these whites were using violence in order to keep their power. One man stabbed Martin with a knife. Another group of men murdered blacks who were peacefully protesting. The police would attack protesters. Another group of men burned churches with people in them.

Martin was insistent, however, that he and his people would not fight back, nor do any kind of violence toward them. Some blacks didn’t like this policy, but Martin said that Jesus taught not to do evil back to those who do evil to you. Rather, he said, we are to love our enemies. At the same time Martin was bold in proclaiming the hard righteousness of Jesus—that of not harming others, giving to others what you want to receive for yourself.

Martin also wanted the government to stop the violence of their war in Vietnam. This made Martin very unpopular, even among his closest supporters. Martin also tried to stop the systems that caused poverty for both blacks and whites, but few listened to his message.

WWJD
Martin was preaching the message Jesus gave him—change the nation, but only through non-violence. However, Martin also saw America as being his salvation, not the kingdom of God. And Martin struggled with the sin of cheating on his wife all of his life. Jesus used Martin, but Martin was not the one to bring people to Jesus.

The Final Word
After one speech in 1967, Martin was shot and killed. This event woke people up to the evil in the segregationist party. Eventually, the whole United States eventually changed their laws and stopped segregation between whites and blacks—on buses, in education and even where they lived. However, the church did not want to listen to Martin’s message against war and against poverty. They praise him for his work against racism, but neglect to speak of his whole message.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
The woman said to Him, "Sir, our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:20-24

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

Helpful Hint: Enduring Rejection and Persecution
Every one of the faithful received persecution and rejection for their stand with Jesus. As Paul said, “No one will enter into the kingdom of God without tribulation.” Even so, there isn’t a single one of the Faithful that did not face opposition, difficulties and even death for their stand for Jesus. Montanus was rejected by his own people for listening to the Spirit. Martin Luther was formally cut off from the Roman church for his stand with the word of God. Paul, Michael Sattler, Jim Elliot and Martin Luther King all were killed because of their stand for God. If you want to be one of the Faithful, expect rejection—lots of it. Rejection is bread and butter for one remaining in Jesus.

Jim and Elisabeth Elliot-- Sacrificing for the Gospel

Background Check:
The Christians in the United States in the mid-1900s were focused on giving the gospel to two groups of people: youth and other nations. In churches all over the U.S. there were many who were encouraged to participate in “missions”, that is, outreach to countries other than the U.S. There was also a number of rallies for youth to teach them to make a commitment to Christ. Thousands of youth believed in Jesus and went to Bible schools to learn more about Jesus. However, many of these youth grew to be people who were only halfway committed to Christ—believing in Jesus, but having little commitment or willingness to sacrifice themselves for the gospel.

Their Story:

Jim Elliot was a young man in Portland, Oregon. He had everything going for him—he was handsome and athletic. He was smart and good at schoolwork. He could have done anything he wanted to in life. But he chose to dedicate himself to giving the gospel of Jesus to those who had never heard it before. He was very strict on himself, disciplining his body and mind so that he would be better equipped to share the gospel. He knew that he would be in difficult terrain to walk, so he exercised regularly to make himself fit. He traveled across the country to study the Bible so he could better explain it. He would evangelize at local rallies they had for youth. And he gathered companions around him who were as dedicated as he to go to places where Jesus had never been named.

He also determined not to get married. Being married, he thought, would limit his ability to preach the gospel. His companions, though, convinced him that if he were married, that he would be better equipped to preach the gospel. It so happens there was already a girl he was interested in, back in Portland. Her name was Elizabeth and she was as dedicated to Jesus as he was. Elizabeth was thinking that she would teach the gospel to women in other countries as a single woman. But as she and Jim wrote letters over time they both realized that they loved each other and that God’s plan for them would be better served together. So as they finished their preparations, they were married.

The missions agency they were with sent them down to the jungles of South America, where almost no one had been before. There, they studied languages, especially Indian ones that might give them the opportunity to speak to Indian tribes that had never heard the gospel before. As their language study progressed, they decided to contact an Indian tribe that could only be reached by airplane. Jim and a few of his companions went to visit the area. They didn’t meet anyone there, but they knew they were being watched. They visited the area again, and then swarms of tribesmen, ready for war attacked them and killed everyone—Jim and all of his companions.

Elizabeth and the wives of the companions were heartbroken. God had taken them all of this way and they worked so hard, for what? The news of the martyred missionaries was sent back to the United States and was put in the newspapers. But the wives of the martyrs weren’t finished with missions yet.

Elizabeth wrote the story of the missionaries in a book and it became very famous. Then Elizabeth and another one of the wives decided to go back to South America and attempt to work with the tribe that had killed their husbands again. This time, with a more careful approach, they were successful. It took twenty years or more, but the tribe that had killed Jim Elliot became Christians. One of the men who had killed her husband went up to Elizabeth and wept, apologizing for his action. She forgave him and he began to follow Jesus.

The Final Word (of Men)
Jim Elliot’s martyrdom was famous in the United States. Many were shocked that such “savages” still existed. Some felt that such “backward” peoples should be destroyed. But many more were shocked at Jim Elliot’s faith and commitment to love others. A saying by Jim Elliot became famous among American Christians: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Thousands were inspired by the story of Jim and Elizabeth Elliot and decided to take the gospel to those who had never heard it before like them.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
You will be hated by everyone for my name’s sake. But whoever endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:13
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:27-28

Helpful Hint: Sacrificing Oneself for Love

Often the faithful would do what was dangerous to themselves or give away everything they had. It is not enough to just love, they would say, it is essential to love sacrificially. The Bible says that we need to love with all that we have, not just to take one part of ourselves to love. If that is the case, then all that we have and all that we are should be at the disposal of others, for their needs. Paul would teach the truth of Jesus, even though he knew that he would be beaten for it. Jim Elliot was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of those who had not heard the gospel. Michael Sattler was willing to be tortured and die for the sake of Jesus, even when he was being killed in the name of Jesus. To be faithful, it is not enough to love—you have to give up your whole self.

Check It Out:
Through Gates Of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliot
The Journals of Jim Elliot
My Enemy, My Savage by Elizabeth Elliot
Also, check out the new film, “End of the Spear” which tells the story of Jim Elliot from the perspective of one of the tribe that killed Jim Elliot

William J Seymour-- Waiting for the Spirit

Background Check:
In the late 1800s the United States was in a race division. After a great Civil War, black slaves were granted freedom from slavery, but white people still had control over all significant power and money. Blacks were not allowed to participate in anything whites participated in, and the blacks received the worst of the segregation. Even education was limited. Blacks were not accepted at colleges and universities that whites went to, and so most blacks were uneducated and the few that were educated were able to gain their education at universities paid for and run by blacks.

This situation was also true for Bible education. If anyone wanted to study the Bible in depth, they would go to a Bible school or seminary and pay money to receive the education. Almost all Bible schools and seminaries were run by whites for whites. Black people were not allowed on the campus, except for servants.

His Story:
On the campus of one Bible school in the Midwestern U.S. was a black servant named William Seymour. He worked hard at the Bible school, hoping that he might catch a bit of the teaching and so become a Bible preacher and teacher himself. However, as he approached some of the teachers, the answer was always the same: “This is a white school, not a black one. You can’t learn here.” He was disappointed, but he still asked. Finally, he asked a teacher of the book of Acts if he could take his class. The teacher said that he couldn’t sit in the classroom, but if he was quiet he could sit outside the door and listen. So day after day, William listened to the specific teaching of the book of Acts.

He learned that in Acts the apostles waited for the Spirit to come and that when he came, the Spirit wasn’t quiet and unseen. Rather he came in power and in the speaking of tongues. The teacher and William came to the same conclusion: if the apostles in Acts could receive the Spirit in this way, then all believers can. They just need to ask God and wait for it.

William began teaching this in local black churches, but they weren’t interested in hearing this new teaching. So he decided to move to Los Angeles, where people might be more interested in a radical Bible teaching. William began to hold meetings in an auditorium in Los Angeles on Azusa Street, and advertised them in the local papers. People came in, interested to hear what he would say about the Spirit. He taught them that right then and there, they needed to pray to God and ask him for the Holy Spirit. And they needed to come the next night and pray again. And they needed to pray again and again until the Spirit came.

At first, only a few came. Then a couple people began to feel the presence of the Spirit. More people came. Soon there were meetings every night of the week and William asked other teachers to come in and teach on the book of Acts. The teachers that came in were white and soon they had a mixed congregation, black and white, all praying side by side for the Holy Spirit.

Then, one day, it happened. Suddenly, the people praying for the Spirit night after night experienced what was unknown for centuries—they were speaking in languages unintelligible to anyone except God! No one tried to do this, but it came about, even as the Scripture said. The revival became front page news in Los Angeles and as the movement grew, people started to come from around the country to experience the Spirit.

WWJD
Jesus told his disciples to wait for the Spirit—and so they did, for thirty days. When the Spirit came upon the disciples, he was shown by the speaking of other languages. William Seymore did what we should all be doing—asking God to repeat the experience of the first church in our experience. Jesus blessed his effort, and granted the Spirit, just as he said he would.

The Final Word (of Men)
The meetings grew huge and it was clear that churches were going to form around these meetings. William had a vision to have churches filled with both black and white people, all of them united by the Spirit alone. However, the white teachers rejected this idea and told William that he could no longer teach at Azusa Street—he had to teach only to the blacks. William was angry and left them to form his own churches. The Azuza Street Revivals began what was later called the Pentecostal movement. The Pentecostal movement is now all over the world and changing the lives of millions around the world. Even today, however, there are many denominations of Pentecostal churches, some of them exclusively for whites, and some exclusively for blacks.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Luke 11:5-13

Helpful Hint: Steadfastness in God’s Calling
For every one of the Faithful there were obstacles to doing what God desired them to do. Patrick sought to do what his superiors thought he was not qualified to do. John Wycliffe had to face the displeasure of other professors and church leaders. Hudson Taylor, to get to China, had to face the rejection of other missionaries. But the Faithful knew what it was that God had desired them to do and nothing would stand in their way. No obstacle, no rejection could stop them from fulfilling the word of Jesus in their life. They knew that God was far stronger than those who stood in their way and that nothing would stop God from fulfilling his plan.

Check It Out:
The Pentecostals by Harvey Cox

Hudson Taylor-- Faith

Background Check:
England in the 1800s was the most powerful nation on earth. It was said that “the sun never set” on the British Empire—and it is true that their Empire stretched all around the globe. And Queen Victoria was their glorious monarch who emphasized that discipline, authority and strict morality was the way to retain control over the world. Everyone in England was Christian, in one way or another, and the brand of Christianity that was accepted by most was one that upheld society and discipline in every way.

Christian England in the late 1800s had a powerful urge to declare the gospel of Jesus. After centuries of war, debate and reform about Jesus and the Bible, the church there decided that it was their responsibility to share the good news with the heathen of foreign lands. Declaring the news of Jesus to those who do not believe in him in foreign lands was called “missionary work” and the groups that sent out these “missionaries” were called “mission societies”. Mission societies had strict guidelines for what kind of people would be sent by them to heathen lands. These missionaries had to be upstanding citizens, in excellent health, typically married and strictly loyal to England.

His Story:
A man by the name of Hudson Taylor approached the mission societies in London, desiring to be sent to China. He was a man who was sick from birth and never completely overcame his illnesses. He was a man who had little money, but believed firmly that God would provide. He was firmly convinced that God had called him to go to China to teach about Jesus. And he had a new idea—instead of focusing on the coastal cities of China, as all missionary societies had done, they should take the gospel to where it had never gone before, to the inland of China.

Hudson Taylor went to many missionary societies. And he was rejected by all of them. “He is too sickly” some said. Others said that his ideas were too outlandish. And others felt that they would declare him worthy to go to the mission field, not a voice speaking in the missionary’s head. But Hudson was determined to do what God wanted him to do, even if no one would send him. So he established his own missionary society, called “China Inland Mission” (or CIM for short). In his society, the only people who would be sent are those who know that God had determined that they would go. In CIM, they wouldn’t wait for the total money to be brought in before a missionary was sent—If God was sending them, God would provide the money in his time. Soon money was gathered for the new society and they send their first group of missionaries to China, with Hudson Taylor at the head.

Hudson Taylor worked hard in China. He focused his declaration of the gospel to those who had never heard it. He learned to speak Chinese like a native and began to teach the Bible to those who wanted to hear something new. Some had trouble accepting the words of Jesus from a “foreign devil” from England—so Hudson changed his appearance so that his clothing and manner of speaking was all Chinese. And he went beyond the coast lands of China and led teams deep into the heart of China. One person who had just heard the gospel recognized the truth of it and said to Hudson, “My father and grandfather sought this truth all their lives and they died without hearing it. Why did you not come sooner?” Hudson Taylor wept at this, but was more determined to have the gospel declared to all people in China.

Hudson soon suffered setbacks. He had many attacks of sickness and often had to be returned to England so that he could be treated by the skilled doctors there. Finally, after many trips back and forth to China, Hudson remained in England to run CIM. He inspired many with his speeches and his outlandish Chinese clothing so that many joined CIM.

WWJD
Jesus insisted that his “missionaries” or apostles would go without anything. They would have to endure through great difficulties and persecutions to achieve their goal of obeying Jesus. The focus was not on success, but on faithfulness to God’s call. This is exactly what Hudson Taylor expected from himself and from his missionaries. Jesus blessed Hudson Taylor’s mission with great success—but not during his lifetime.

The Final Word (of Men)
Because of Hudson Taylor and others like him, China today has a powerful underground church that preaches the gospel of Jesus without any foreign or government influence, even though they are persecuted by the Chinese government. China Inland Mission changed their name to CIM International, still trying to be focused on “faith missions.” However, most missions agencies insist, unlike Hudson Taylor, that missionaries be sent to another country only after they have raised enough commitments that people would sent large amounts of money every month. Missions agencies like Hudson Taylor’s almost do not exist anymore.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Why could we not do this deed?” And Jesus replied, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, your will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:19-20

Helpful Hint: Teaching the Truth of Jesus
The church that takes on Jesus’ name has taught many things over the years, from many different sources. However, the Faithful focus their teaching only on what Jesus himself taught. While they may teach other things, Jesus’ teaching is the focus of all that they say and do. Paul was persecuted by the Jews for insisting that Jesus was sufficient. Michael Sattler insisted that the true church is based on the teaching of Jesus and not anything else. John Wesley taught the teaching of Jesus carefully, not allowing it to be made impure by any other teaching. When giving the truth to others, the Faithful are sure that they are speaking the truth of Jesus, not of others.

Check It Out:
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

Therese of Lisieux-- Humility

Background Check:
As the Reformation in Europe settled down, France remained a Roman Catholic country, devoted to the Pope. But in the late 1700s, a revolution occurred in France, toppling the monarchy and killing many magistrates and rulers, including many bishops and priests of the church. Many of the French (and most of Europe) stopped being dedicated to the church, but rather devoted themselves to the principles of “reason” and “enlightenment”, which meant that they were not devoted to God at all, but rather their own thinking. Many people no longer felt that it was necessary to obey God, to honor the church or to do anything but what is for their own good. However, there was still a strong Catholic population in France, and many were extremely devoted to the church.

Her Story:
Among these was the Martin family, who were well off, but very dedicated to the church. So much so, that when the second daughter was determining her life, she decided to become a nun, someone who had taken vows to never be married but to spend her life praying and honoring Jesus. And in fact, the oldest daughter also became a nun, which left the youngest daughter, Therese, the most beloved of her father, to remain at home and take care of her father in his old age. However, from a young age Therese had determined that she would be a “religious”—even before her older sisters had made their decisions. And so when she became old enough, she too became a nun, which broke the heart of her father, although he understood the decision.

The life of a nun is filled with prayer and doing small tasks. They take care of all the work there themselves and most spare time is spent in worship and prayer. But as with anything, the attitude one has toward the work makes a difference. Early on, Therese was very dedicated to the work and prayer, but soon another girl joined the convent who was about Therese’s age. Therese enjoyed her company quite a bit and the girls would spend time chatting and whispering during worship. Then Therese decided that she needed to devote herself to Jesus, her “husband”, and not to be distracted. So she told her new friend that she wouldn’t be spending time with her, but with Jesus alone.

But how was one to devote oneself? There were many ways to chose from, even in a convent. One could aim to be the leader, one of the “mothers” of the convent. One could dedicate oneself to service, working hard. One could dedicate oneself to prayer, becoming strict in devotion to God. Therese decided not to focus on any of these ways, but to dedicate herself to love—to treating her sisters in the convent so well that they felt as if Jesus himself were responding to them. In her dedication to love, she would focus on how she could benefit her sisters and do all she could to help them. She did not do this so much in service, but in attitude.

If she dedicated herself to love, she decided, she would dedicate herself to humility. If she were to truly love her sisters, she must be the lowest of them all. She resolved that would do whatever they asked of her, and would never complain. She strictly obeyed the “mothers” of the convent, and always be pleasant around all the sisters, never giving another sister cause for alarm or discomfort. This did not give her honor in the convent—in fact the sisters complained about her just as much as they ever did. But even if they accused her falsely, she would not say a word, but accept her punishment without complaint.

Even when she grew very sick, she did not change her attitude of love and humility. She began spitting up blood and became very weak and had to spend most of her days in bed. But in every situation, she would still do all she could to remain pleasant and helpful to the other sisters. There was one sister in particular, whom Therese didn’t like at all. She had many irritating habits and would make noises during their worship times. Therese was very irritated, but she was devoted to loving this sister. So instead of avoiding her, she would go out of her way to say kind things to her and to honor her as much as possible. The sister never knew how much Therese disliked her, but rather thought that Therese liked her best of all.

WWJD
Therese did not live a dramatic, adventurous, dangerous life like Jesus did. She didn’t make bold statements like Jesus did. But, like Jesus, she set her ideas and her honor aside in order to serve others. In her own unique way, she showed that a person can live a quiet life, and still take up the cross, sacrificing herself for the way of Jesus. Also, like Jesus, she saw the reality of the spirit world and how it changes the physical world through prayer. Jesus loved her “little way” and blessed her greatly for showing this way to multitudes.

The Final Word (of humans)
Therese’s convent mother recognized Therese’s uniqueness in love, especially while she was ill, and asked her to write her autobiography—the story of her life. Another sister asked Therese to write her way of life, which Therese called “the little way”, because it was the opposite of the great and dramatic ways that some saints have chosen. Her writings were collected and published as a book, called “The Story of a Soul”. Therese died at 26 of the illness that afflicted her. She was known by no one but her family and convent when she died. But when her book became known, many thousands determined to follow the “little way” like Therese.

A Word From Our Sponsor
When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:8-11

Helpful Hint: Seeking Lowliness and Service
The Faithful were interested in being slaves to Jesus, and that’s all. They weren’t interested in power. They weren’t interested in personal gain. They didn’t seek high positions, although most of them could have had them if they wanted them. And even if positions were given to them—like John Wycliffe and Desmond Tutu—they used their positions to serve the lowly, not to gain more glory for themselves. Francis never sought to be an important person, and the only position he ever gained he surrendered freely at the end of his life. John Wesley could have been an important priest, but he determined to preach the gospel to whoever needed it. Ignatius could have sought worldly position and power—but he determined to be poor, serving Jesus alone instead. The life of the Faithful may not be glamorous, but God’s glory is so much more than what the world can give.

Check It Out:
Story of A Soul: The Autobiography of Therese of the Infant Jesus

George Muller-- Trusting God

Background Check:
The main religious group in Germany by the late 1700s were the Lutherans. As Lutheranism developed, however, the original cry of Martin Luther “Salvation by Faith Alone” became “salvation by believing in the right doctrine.” Most Lutherans thought that if you believed the right things about God and Jesus, then you were going to go to heaven. Some believers, though, were reading their Bibles and firmly believed that it mattered just as much how one lived in Christ. These were called Pietists, and they focused on the reading of God’s word and in living holy lives before God.

His Story:
George Muller, a young man in the early 1800s, was raised a Lutheran, but became influenced by the Pietists in Germany. Excited to live a life of faith in God, he traveled to England to be a missionary to the Jews there. When he arrived in England, he met some members of the Brethren movement, who believed that Christians should not participate in the affairs of earthly government and in simple living.

Muller decided to live according to Scripture’s radical way. He and his wife gave away all of their property, and refused to accept a pastor’s salary, instead receiving only what was given to them through offerings. One of the main ways a church would receive money in those days is by families “renting” pews—paying a certain amount per year in order to have a seat reserved especially for them. Muller stopped that practice, saying that seats in a church should not be sold to the highest bidder. All of these changes left Muller in a difficult situation. He now had no regular income with which to pay for his food and clothing. He and his wife made due with little, but when they were in great need, they did not go to the wealthy people and ask for funds. Rather, they prayed to God and asked him for what they needed. During that time, they learned that God would provide for all their needs and they could live by depending only on the Lord.

A congregation in Bristol, England asked Muller to take the pulpit there. George began preaching about giving to the poor and needy. Suddenly, there was a terrible outbreak of cholera, a terrible disease, that killed many people in Bristol. Muller believed that God was calling him and his wife to assist the poor during this time. They helped many survive that disease. After this, Muller decided to open an orphanage for children without parents to live in and to learn God’s word in. Again, they prayed to the Lord and let their intentions be known, but they did not ask anyone for money. This was their experiment—would God provide for them, if they only ask for their needs in prayer?

But God came through. Money came in, a building was provided as well as all of the necessary food and clothing. Many times there was not enough food to feed all of the children, but the Mullers and their helpers would pray and—in the last minute before the meal—food or funds would come in to provide for the children’s needs. George wrote a journal of his experiences day by day, to testify to God’s power and provision. By the end of his life, the account books showed that George Muller gave away about 3 million dollars that he had never asked for!

WWJD
Jesus told his disciples to completely trust in God for their provision. They could feel free to completely surrender their whole lives to building God’s kingdom, because God would grant them everything they need. Jesus himself lived this out, depending on others to provide for him and his disciples as he traveled around and taught about God’s kingdom. George followed this principle precisely, and Jesus provided his example just as the economics of the whole world was changing, to show that trust in God never becomes outdated.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?… You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' … But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Matthew 6:19-21, 25, 31, 33-34

Helpful Hint: Trusting in God’s Provision
Most people clamor and seek other people to provide for their daily needs—jobs, handouts, security from people. However, the Faithful look only to God for their support, only to Him for their provision. Anthony was in the desert, depending on God for food. George Muller never asked from anyone, but waited on God alone to provide. As we will see, Hudson Taylor sent his missionaries out without their provision to do the task, and they all prayed to God to provide. To be faithful to God is to trust that God would be the Good Father he is and to give all that his children need.

Check It Out:
The Autobiography of George Muller
George Muller of Bristol by A.T. Pierson

John Weasly-- Teaching God's Kingdom

Background Check:
As the years went on, Protestant movements grew and gained more power throughout the world. Spiritually, however, each movement varied greatly from person to person. Most Protestants were just as complacent and biblically ignorant as the Romans whom they were first “protesting” against. To deal with the spiritual apathy, many preachers began to teach in “revivals”—emotionally-charged presentations of the gospel, to inspire new faith in those who were spiritually dead.

His Story:
John Wesley was born in England in a fairly well-off household and was raised in the Anglican church. He had an excellent education, but decided to use what he could to proclaim the gospel of Jesus, instead of gaining for himself. After he graduated, he went to the “wilderness” of Georgia in America, to preach the gospel to the English colonists and the Native peoples. He gained little success there and left to go back home. During the trip, though, John met some Moravians who taught him that he could be free from anxiety and trust in the work of Jesus. John accepted this with joy, but also observed that Jesus taught that the faith of the kingdom must be accompanied by love.

John later heard that a zeal for Jesus was sparked in America, and this encouraged him to begin such a work in England. Not having room in the English churches for hundreds of people to listen to God’s word, John began to preach in open fields. Hundreds and then thousands came to hear his teaching. But these that came weren’t from well-off homes like what he was from. Rather, they were coal miners and their families who would work all day and then go to bed at dusk, tired, hungry and often without hope.

John became very busy. He would wear out horses, riding from one town he was teaching in to the next, but he himself would teach without stop. He also had time to begin small group meetings, where people would be held accountable to worship the Lord, pray and to give of what they had to the poor. John also participated in helping the poor as often as he could. He also had a wife and many children, whom he did not see frequently because of his work

When John Wesley taught, he did so carefully. He did not use a brief text and then use many stories and pithy cliches to illustrate his point, which may or may not teach what Jesus taught. Instead, John had the Scripture at the beginning, middle and the end of his teachings. He taught on the Scripture alone, and taught it as accurately as he could. He used his education not to teach on theology or on man’s reasoning, but to teach the kingdom of God, the law of Christ and the death of Jesus. He taught the pure word and focused on what the Bible said, not his own ideas.

He focused on teaching the love of Jesus and that we are to live out the love of Jesus. He gave as much as he could to the poor and taught others to do the same. He provided for his family but he often would receive nothing for his teaching. All throughout his life, he was a slave for the word of God, looking for God’s reward rather than his own earthly gain.

WWJD
Jesus spurred himself on in the same way John did—He never stopped teaching, never stopped travelling from town to town, Just like John, he put his family second, taking all of his effort to build God’s kingdom. Many people think that it would have been better if John had had more balance in his life—taking more time for rest and his family—but John lived out a life that was exactly the same pattern as Jesus.

Final Word (of men)
Although he only worked within the Anglican church, John Wesley was the inspiration for many American denominations, including the Methodists, the Holiness churches and the Nazarenes. John inspired millions to live lives of purity and service before God. And thousands of others were inspired by John’s life, becoming “circuit riders” preaching from place to place in the early United States. It is rare to find people today so willing to give their energy to God’s work.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
Jesus sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Luke 9:2-6

Helpful Hint: Teaching the Lowly and Outcast
Some Christians focused on teaching the rich and powerful. But the Faithful mostly taught the lowly and those rejected by society. They did this following the example of Jesus who said that it was the sick that needed the doctor, not the healthy. John Wycliffe taught the Bible not only to those who could afford it, but to those who were rejected as teachers. George Fox and John Wesley taught the poor and lowly the Bible and encouraged them to teach others. As we will see, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot and Hudson Taylor sought out those who did not know the gospel to specifically give it to them. The best of the Faithful are not those who have expensive pulpits, but those who teach those who cannot afford it or are considered “unworthy” by others.

George Fox-- Boldness

Background Check:
The Reformation of the church took place in England, but the transition was complicated and violent. King Henry VIII separated England from the Roman Catholic Church because he did not like what the Roman church had to say about his personal life. And so he began the Protestant Anglican (meaning “English”) church, calling himself the head and taking over all the lands the Roman church owned in England. After Henry died, one of his daughters came to the throne, “Bloody” Mary, who exiled and killed all the Protestants who would not convert back to Catholicism. Then after Mary died, Elizabeth took the throne for many years and made the Anglican church the official church in England.

His Story:
Most Catholics and Jews were exiled out of England at that point, but the Protestants were still not pleased with the church. Many Protestants still felt that the Anglican church had too many aspects of the Catholic church within it. They still performed what looked like a Catholic mass (The Lord’s supper) and they used much of the authority structure, clothing and worship practices of the Catholics. These who wanted the church to be “purified” from Catholicism were called “Puritans” and they were a strong minority voice in the church of England.

In the midst of this conflict came George Fox, an educated young man who had some odd ideas. He received visions and prophecies from God directly to people and spoke these. He studied the Bible continuously, but was confident that his interpretations were correct, while many churchmen were wrong because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and they primarily just accepted the views given to them by the schools they had gone to. One thing is clear, though: what George taught was a simple and clear teaching of the Bible, as opposed to the various arguments and confusions that was usually presented as pure doctrine.
George taught that a minister or pastor is not one who is educated at school, but one who is inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God. He taught that the church was not based in a nation, a building or in outward things, but that the kingdom of God was within one’s heart. He taught that baptism and the Lord’s supper were not important as outward actions, but that the inward baptism of the Spirit and one’s dedication to Jesus is most important. He also taught that the church of God should not participate in war, but to be holy communities in the midst of the disobedient world.

Many who were dissatisfied with the Anglican church’s focus decided to follow George Fox and his new ideas of what the people of God were. They called themselves “Friends” because they were all equal in the sight of Jesus. But those who looked at them called them “Quakers” because many of them would shake when under the Spirit’s influence. After the first five years of its existence, the Quaker church grew to twenty thousand people in England and was growing fast.

WWJD
Jesus taught much like George Fox did: simply, through the Scriptures, and directly confronting the hypocrisy of his day. Jesus did not desire that his disciples be weaklings, hiding from persecution or afraid to speak out. He commanded them to be bold. George Fox depended on Jesus’ Spirit and on Jesus’ word to communicate to everyone the truth of God. That is exactly what Jesus wanted.

Final Word (of Men)
George was remarkably bold in his proclamation of God’s word, directly confronting Anglican authorities as often as he could. The Anglicans were very angry against George and threw him in jail time and time again. They also persecuted the Quakers as a whole and threw many of their poor, rural preachers into jail. But no matter how many times they were thrown in jail, and how badly they were persecuted, George always taught and showed by example how necessary it was to be bold with the word of God—proclaiming the truth of it, even though many who claimed to be of God were opposed to it.

The Quakers (or Society of Friends) still exist today. Over the years, the Quakers in North America created a colony that never attacked the Native Americans (called Pennsylvania) and they were very significant in working toward setting black slaves free.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
"Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:26-33

Helpful Hint: Boldness for God’s Word
The Faithful were not weaklings. Some, like Therese, seemed weak and frail, but they were all bold and forthright about one thing—the word of God and the life of Jesus. These were people who were called by God to show the world what it meant to follow Jesus and they did so with all they had. Paul stood before groups who strongly opposed him and proclaimed the word of Jesus. John Wycliffe publically taught the truth of the word of God, even though the whole world was against him. George Fox stood before whoever would oppose him and would declare the truth of God, even though he knew he would be imprisoned. Not a one of these were wall-flowers. They were all people who stepped out to tell the truth to whoever wanted to hear—and so some who didn’t!

Check It Out:
The Autobiography of George Fox

Ignatius of Loyola: Passion for Jesus

Background Check:
The Roman Catholic church was coming out of centuries of laziness and power-driven control when Martin Luther and the Reformation took them by surprise. They had never thought that a group might come from within their own ranks to take away their power and wealth—but that is exactly what happened. Most Catholics felt that they should just destroy the reformers, take back the land and the wealth that was taken from the church and then things can go on the way they were. So many Catholics tried to do just that. Wars were fought and lost. Persecution against “heretics” were enacted. Thousands were killed, thousands were tortured—all to no avail. The Protestants and other reformers were here to stay, and there was nothing the Catholics could do about it.

Some Catholics, though, realized that the problems that were happening with the church did not primarily come from the Protestants, but from the Catholics own lack of devotion to God. If they would only focus again on the way of Jesus and learn again what it means to be a holy, devoted church, then perhaps God would again show favor on them.

His Story:
In 1521, a young Catholic soldier named Ignatius Loyola was wounded in a battle in Spain. This caused him to be forced to lay in bed for many months. He hoped that there were novels to read, but there was only a book about the life of Jesus and of the lives of the saints. “Saints” in the Catholic church means those great men and women who did acts of heroism for Jesus and are so honored by the church. After months of reading about suffering, confronting enemies with love, taking on poverty, homelessness and rejection with joy, Ignatius knew what he wanted to do—he wanted to be a saint.

After he was well enough to get out of his bed, he took his life of Christ and retired to a monastery near a cave. In that cave, Ignatius prayed and meditated on the life of Jesus. He realized that everything that one needed to have a godly life was right there in the life of Jesus. Jesus was fully devoted to God, he renounced wealth, he spoke against status, he lived and taught love. Everything that the saints ever did, all the good that was ever done, it was all right here in the life of Jesus. Jesus is to be the center of our existence. Ignatius wrote out the meditations he had been having on living out the life of Jesus in his own life. Later, it was published and called The Spiritual Exercises. That book was used and still is used by millions around the world to help one focus on living the way of Jesus.

After a number of years of meditation, Ignatius decided what he would do with the rest of his life. It is not enough, he thought, to fight petty battles in Spain about small matters. Nor is it enough to think about living the life of Jesus in a cave. Rather, he determined, he would be a soldier for Christ in the world. He would not fight with swords and spears—he would fight with poverty, prayer and education.

But first, he had to be educated. He could read Spanish, but his Latin was poor and his knowledge was limited as a soldier. Having some wealth, he enrolled into one of the best schools in Europe—the University of Paris. He lived in Paris for years, studying Latin, theology, philosophy and anything else that would cause him to be fit for his work. But even in Paris, he had to live according to the way of Christ. He slept outside, begged for his food, and studied the life of Christ at night. The next morning, he would show up to his studies looking like a poor man and a fool. All that would be well, if he did not also preach in the courtyard, telling people to focus on Christ, not on wealth or status. Most of the students and teachers there thought he was crazy. But a couple students thought that what he was saying and the life he was living made sense.
Ignatius took his few followers and began a group called the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. They would do all they could to convert those who did not know Jesus and to re-train Catholics and Protestants to be devoted to God and to live the life of Jesus.

WWJD
Jesus wasn’t necessarily excited about formal education. It was sufficient for him to have a working knowledge of God’s word and to depend on His Father. But Jesus granted to people the greatest gifts if they were just excited about Him. To a blind man who couldn’t stop praising his name, Jesus gave his sight. To a woman who had to touch Jesus, he healed from illness. Ignatius was someone who was excited about Jesus, and he couldn’t hide it. He looked like a fool and an idiot just for doing what he thought Jesus wanted him to do. Ignatius was Jesus’ favorite kind of follower—one who didn’t care how he looked.

The Final Word (of Men)
Over time the Jesuits grew and their influence over the Catholic church also grew. Soon, people who were more interested in the politics of evangelism than the life that comes from evangelism became in charge of the Jesuits. The Jesuits became so well known for corrupt politics and torturing people who refused to be converts that they were eventually disbanded by the Catholic church. In the 1800s, the Jesuits were established again by those who wanted to see Ignatius’ vision renewed, and the Jesuits continue to this day.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:58-62

Helpful Hint: Jesus is the guide to life
It wasn’t enough for these faithful to just learn the teaching of Jesus. They didn’t just want to memorize it and be content with their knowledge. They insisted that they needed to live it out. Live it out radically! Peter Waldo and Francis and Ignatius gave up all they had in order to live out the teaching of Jesus. Michael Sattler and Menno Simons gave up his housing and all he was comfortable with in order to better live out the teaching of Jesus. The teaching of Jesus was not just a textbook to them, it was a guide, a mentor. It was as if Jesus himself were standing before them, saying, “Here, go this way, do this.” And whatever Jesus said, that’s what they did. No matter how stupid it looked to the people around them.

Check It Out:
The Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius of Loyola

Menno Simons-- Baptism and Concord

Background Check:
In the 1500s, changes were happening all over Europe. Every province in Germany, Switzerland and Holland has to make a decision whether they will remain a part of the Roman Catholic church, or to become a part of the Protestant movement, began by Martin Luther. But whatever they chose, there was still one legal requirement necessary for every citizen of every province—they must be registered by baptism at birth. If a person was to be a part of a province, they were required to be a part of the church approved by the government, and then all of their babies had to be baptized.

His Story:
However, there was a movement of people who were saying that the Bible said that only those who can believe in Jesus can be baptized. They also believed that babies don’t know enough about Jesus to be able to be baptized. These people were called Anabaptists because they believed that people needed to be “baptized again” (“ana” in Greek means “again”).

One group of Anabaptists were strong enough in Northern Europe that they took over the government of a province called Munster. They required everyone in that province to be baptized as adults and the called themselves the real Kingdom of God, and they gave themselves a king, Jan van Leiden. Over time, that group was attacked and destroyed by Protestant forces.

Meanwhile, there was a Catholic priest called Menno Simons who was outraged at the Munsterites. He agreed (against all of his Catholic teachings) that babies should not be baptized. However, he deeply opposed the Munsterites. He was shocked that they could force people to be baptized and then dare to call it “believer’s” baptism, since many of the people were forced to be baptized even though they didn’t believe in Anabaptism. He protested their violence and rebellion against the governments already established. And most of all, he disagreed with them calling themselves a “kingdom” for there is only one Kingdom of God and Christ is the King alone.

As priest, he spoke against the Munsterites for a year and wrote a powerful pamphlet against them. However, he found that he could no longer be a part of the Catholic Church because of his views on non-violence and believer’s baptism. So he left the Catholic Church and became the head of the Anabaptist church in Holland that were opposed to the Munsterites.

WWJD
Jesus himself taught that baptism was for believers and he insisted that there must be peace among his followers. He would be appalled at the many people who call themselves followers of Jesus, but believe that they can fight and even kill people that oppose their beliefs. Jesus lived out his teaching that it is better to be abused and killed by people, rather than respond with harm against another. Menno Simons, just like Jesus, lives out this principle. Jesus saw Menno’s work and blessed him with long life because of his faithful service to Him.


The Final Word (of Men)
For decades, Menno spoke and wrote about peace and about believer’s baptism, often leaving his wife and children and wandering from place to place. He ended up working in Germany as well and was significant in drawing Anabaptist churches together. As he traveled and spoke, he was chased by Catholic and Protestant governments, who wanted to kill him for his teaching. In the end, however, he died in his bed and was buried in his own garden. His writings were so influential and important to the Anabaptists, that most of today’s Anabaptists churches call themselves “Mennonite” after Menno Simons.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Mark 16:15-16

Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can one salt it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:50

Helpful Hint: Being At Peace with All People
For the faithful, it is not enough that they themselves did work for their enemies—they had to teach others to do the same. Menno Simons worked within the Anabaptist movements to bring reconciliation and purity to the groups. As we will see, William Seymour and Desmond Tutu wanted all the Christians—both white and black—to worship and honor one another equally. Peter Waldo and Martin Luther wanted reconciliation between their movements and the Roman Church. Reconciliation was not always successful, but they strove to be at peace with all people—in as much as they were able.

Check It Out:
The Complete Works of Menno Simons

Michael Sattler-- Obeying Jesus

Background Check:
In 1525, Germany was going through a civil war. Every state that was ruled by a prince or council needed to make a decision as to whether they would be part of the Reformed church—a Protestant— or part of the Roman church. Whatever decision the leaders made, all of the citizens of that community automatically became a Protestant or a Roman Catholic. If a citizen did not want to be what their leaders chose, then they had to leave.

In that year, there was also another group of Bible students, who felt that even the Protestants weren’t following the Bible close enough. They were called Anabaptists because they taught that everyone who was baptized as a baby should be re-baptized as an adult. They held out for a more radical reform that was closer to what the Bible taught. These Anabaptists were despised by both the Catholics and the Protestants.

His Story:
Michael Sattler was a monk who had heard the ideal of the Reformers. He studied Scripture and wanted to change his monastery to be closer to the teaching of the Bible. He became discouraged at the lack of devotion to God in the monastery and the monk’s lack of commitment to the way of Jesus.

Late in 1525, a group of Protestant soldiers came to Michael Sattler’s monastery in order to see if the community that lived there would be Protestant or Catholic. While the monastery was unharmed, Michael Sattler listened to the Protestant soldiers and their idea of what the Bible teaches. Then Sattler met two Anabaptist soldiers who told them of the new reform that radically followed the Bible. Sattler decided that he would join this community that was interested in following exactly what the Bible says. Thus, Sattler and the two soldiers left together to another part of Germany where Anabaptists settled.

Michael Sattler studied Scripture with the Anabaptists for a year and determined one thing with them—whatever Jesus said, that we must do. Sattler then came up with his own vision for Anabaptism—a radical commitment to being committed to Jesus through obeying the Sermon on the Mount. He taught that Jesus said we must never participate in war or violence, but to be separate from the governments of this world. He taught that we should not swear oaths, even as Jesus said. He taught that we should not focus on religious ceremony, but on meeting the needs of brothers and sisters. He taught that we should love our enemies, not harm them.

After Michael was baptized, he brought his proposal to Schliechim—a gathering of Anabaptists who sought unity in their many disagreements. Of all the proposals, it was agreed that Sattler’s proposal of peace, love of enemies, and separation from the government was the most Biblical and was affirmed by the majority of Mennonites there.

WWJD
Jesus was very firm that whoever would follow him must obey his teachings. He must have been very disappointed when most of those who claimed his name ignored what he said for centuries. For so long, the heart of Jesus—obeying his teaching—has been avoided and even ridiculed and punished by death! But Jesus must have been very pleased when Michael Sattler—more than anyone else in the Reformation begun by Martin Luther—focused on obeying Jesus. This is the heart of Jesus, brought back to be focused on by Jesus’ people.

Final Word (of men)
Later, Sattler and some others were in a Catholic part of Germany, teaching about the commands of Jesus. They were caught by the Catholic magistrates there and put on trial. Sattler was accused of leaving the monastery, teaching that Christians shouldn’t be at war against the Muslims, and that all true believers must be baptized again as an adult. Sattler refused to have a lawyer, because, he said, he cannot dispute what is clearly in Scripture. Sattler was condemned to have his tongue clamped down and to be torn to death with red hot tongs as a heretic.

A 16th century tongue screw

The Anabaptists became a world-wide movement by the twentieth century, and reached a million people by the twenty-first century. They are all people who believed, like Michael Satter, that Jesus taught us to not harm our enemies in any way, and that we should not participate in war. Some Anabaptist groups are still debating about other parts of the Sermon on the Mount, but there are still those who adhere to Jesus’ teachings above all.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-- and great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27

Helpful Hint: The Teaching of Jesus as Life and Breath
In order to gain the whole of Jesus, all of these faithful had to know the teaching of Jesus inside and out. It was not enough for them to just know what everyone knew about Jesus. Rather, they had to read the gospels for themselves and see what Jesus was teaching them. George Fox focused on reading the Bible with the Holy Spirit to understand what it really said. Ignatius and Antony would spend every day learning from the life of Jesus. Peter Waldo had to find someone to translate the gospels for him in order to learn the teaching of Jesus. The teaching of Jesus was not just a dead book to these faithful, but it was their life and breath. When these faithful were at their best, it was because they were living out what Jesus did and said. Everything else in their lives was just footnotes.

Check It Out:
The Life and Thought of Michael Sattler by Arnold Snyder
The Martyrs Mirror

Martin Luther: No Salvation In Money

Background Check:
In the late Middle Ages (1300-1500) much of the Roman church, which ruled over Western Europe, was corrupt. The Romans church was controlled by rich people, who taxed the poor so that they could live luxurious lives. The priests and the monks were the only ones who could preach, but they often did not know the Bible at all, only the theology they were taught by other priests and monks. And then came a practice known as “indulgences”—The church requesting money from people so that their loved ones would not suffer harm from God. In the early 1500’s this became a popular form of devotion, and a way for rich people to feel that they were “saving” their dead loved ones from harm.

His Story:
Martin Luther was a young man riding his horse when a lightning storm struck suddenly. He was scared out of his mind, and so pleaded to God for deliverance. After not being harmed by the storm, Luther decided to live with a community of monks in Wittenberg, Germany (The “W” is pronounced like a “V”). Although he lived by himself, his task was to teach the Bible and theology to the young monks.

In 1517, it became known that a caravan of the Roman church was coming to Wittenberg to encourage people to give indulgences. Luther became angry and wrote out 95 points (or “theses”) against indulgences and then nailed them to the Wittenberg church door (which was the community bulletin board). These points were well presented, written in German and they became printed on a new machine called a printing press. Soon the 95 Theses were all over Germany, and the church leaders were not happy about it.

The church leaders called Luther to a trial in another part of Germany, called Worms (Remember, the “W” is pronounced like a “v”). There, they accused Luther of teaching heresy, but Luther simply stood by the word of God and challenged them to correct him by the Bible. They could not, so they let him go. On his way back home, Luther heard that some of the church leaders were going to try to kill him, so he ran away and hid with some friends.

Soon, an important political leader called Fredrick the Wise decided to assist Luther and he kept him in his home and Luther was free to give Fredrick advice and to write his books—all of which were printed in German and were very popular in Germany. Luther also translated the Bible in German so that all the people could read the Bible. All of these acts together caused what was called “the Reformation,” or the worldwide challenge to the Roman church. Luther wanted to cause a change in the Roman church, but when the leader of the Roman church, the Pope, rejected Luther, then Luther began a new church, called the Lutheran Church.

Later in his life, Luther did not continue to follow the ways of Jesus, but advised Fredrick and other Lutheran leaders to kill Roman Catholics, Anabaptists (also called Mennonites) and Jews. This immediately caused horrible wars and persecutions to erupt between Christians in Europe for more than a hundred years.

WWJD
Jesus also spoke out against the hypocrisy of people. He constantly said that the leaders of God’s people could not be trusting in money, but in God. And he was rejected and persecuted for this opinion, just like Martin Luther. However, Jesus never affirmed the killing of others. He recognized that people would be judged for their sins, but he held that God would do such punishment himself, and not support the killing of others. Thus, while Jesus might have supported Luther’s ideals, he would not have supported Luther’s ways of achieving God’s righteousness

Final Word (of men)
Martin Luther began a church named the Lutherans, and he actually changed the world upside-down. Because of his writings and teachings the Bible was focused on more by all Western churches and a new kind of Christianity was supported, generally named the Protestants (so called because they broke away from the Catholic church). Most Western Christians honor Martin Luther and his stand against hypocrisy.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, which will entrust you to true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No slave can be enslaved by two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other or he will love the hone and hate the other. No one can be enslaved by both God and Mammon.
Luke 16:10-13

Beware of scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.
Mark 12:38-40

Helpful Hint: Getting To The Heart of the Matter
In every age, the church had a weakness in following Jesus—and often more than one! The Faithful saw that weakness and spoke boldly to correct it. They were never interested in dividing the church, but only to make the church more faithful to Jesus and His teaching. Anthony saw the worldliness in the church and sought to correct it. Luther saw the demand to live by unfruitful deeds. As we will see, Martin Luther King saw the favoritism and spoke against it. The church was never happy to hear this message—instead, the Christians of these days fought against the message of Jesus! But the Faithful never failed to bring the message their church needed to hear.

John Wycliffe: The Word of God, Not Men

Background Check:
In the early years of the church, education of children was based on the Scriptures and prayer. As the church became more accustomed to the Greek way of thinking, they adapted the Greek “university” form of education. This involved studying brilliant men called philosophers and studying their books. The Scriptures were secondary to what men taught about the Scriptures and the ideas and thoughts of men. No one understood the Scriptures for what they said by themselves. The teachers at the universities wore expensive robes and everyone spoke Latin, not the language of the people. Colleges and universities taught priests and lawyers their trade, but these trades were only for the wealthy and highly educated.

His Story:

John Wycliffe was a professor at Oxford University. Wycliffe was a serious student of the Bible, and he felt that the church and the university should follow what the Bible, and especially the teachings of Jesus, said. When Jesus said that the word of God had not come to the educated and important, Wycliffe listened and began to wear peasant’s clothing instead of the usual rich robes. And when Jesus said that his followers were “little ones” or unimportant people, Wycliffe listened and he decided to teach the Bible to people who didn’t know Latin or were wealthy. And he also decided that he would begin a translation of the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into English—which had never been done before.

From these teachings, some of the people Wycliffe taught felt that they should preach the gospel and also speak against the injustices of the English government. These preachers were called Lombards. They stirred the people up, and some of the peasants decided to revolt against the English government. This rebellion caused a small civil war in England, but it was stopped by the English soldiers and the peasants were put back in their place.

Wycliffe, however, continued to teach the Bible for what it said, not what other teachers thought it should say. He wrote a book about the Lord’s supper, opposing the idea that the bread and wine transformed into literal flesh and blood. He also opposed many other views of his day, on the basis of the authority of Jesus and the Bible alone.

WWJD
Jesus took his own word very seriously. He made it clear that if people didn’t obey his word, that they could not be pleasing to God. And he also said that His words would never fail—they would certainly be kept forever. Jesus also wanted people to interpret God’s word through his teaching. This is what John Wycliffe was about. Jesus was pleased at how Wycliffe was serious about Jesus’ word and he was willing to sacrifice himself to teach it and do it.

The Final Word (of men)
Some people claimed that the war was all Wycliffe’s fault—even though he spoke against it when it came up. The rulers in England listened to those who hated Wycliffe and his teaching and they arranged for him to be dismissed from his teaching in Oxford. By the end of his life, he was forced to stop teaching and leave Oxford. His reputation was destroyed and no one would learn from him. He died a few years after in a small town outside of Oxford. After he died, his teachings were banned in England and in all of Europe, his books were burned and his body was dug up and burned. All because he was more interested in following what the Bible said than following the traditions of men.


A Word From Our Sponsor:
The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. "For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH'; but you say, 'If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),' you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that." Mark 7:1-14

Heaven and earth may pass away, but my word will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

Helpful Hint: Giving Up This Life for the Next
Let’s face it, the lives of most of these Faithful were miserable. They were beaten, imprisoned, rejected, wanderers without a home, enslaved, threatened and many of them were killed. Being a Faithful one isn’t necessarily a fun job, nor does it have many extra benefits. And none of them would gain a good rate on life insurance. But these faithful weren’t looking for benefits on earth or the rewards of this age. Rather, they looked to God for everything and knew that their real reward would be in the age to come—the kingdom of God. Peter Waldo gave up all he had so that he would gain treasure in heaven. Martin Luther wasn’t looking for assurance from men of his salvation, but from God. Jim Elliot was looking for God’s life, not his own. They all knew that to gain one’s own life in God’s kingdom, the life in this age had to be given up. And they were all willing to do that for Jesus.

Francis of Assisi-- Sacrificial Giving To The Poor

Background Check:
The Roman Church was very concerned about the Waldensian movement, begun by Peter Waldo. In Southern Europe, the Waldensians were becoming an alternative to the Roman Church and were becoming more and more directly opposed to that church. At first, the Roman Church sent armies out to physically destroy the Waldensians, but that only made the movement stronger. So they appointed a man named Dominicus to train people to do “evangelism” to the Waldensians. And they were also looking for someone else to lead an alternative movement for those who wished to live in voluntary poverty.

His Story:

Francis was the son of a wealthy businessman in who sold cloth in Assisi, Italy. As a youth, he would sing and dance and go to parties as often as he could. He was taken to war as a soldier and held prisoner for a year. During that time, he had a powerful experience with God and determined to follow Jesus.
As he was praying in a broken-down chapel outside of Assisi, Francis heard the voice of God say, “Rebuild my temple, which is broken down.” After hearing this word, Francis took all the money he had to buy stones and mortar to rebuild the little chapel. When he found that he did not have enough resources, he began to take his fathers cloth and sell it without his father knowing, in order to get what he needed to rebuild the temple. When his father found out about this, he was furious.

He took his son to court, and accused him of theft. Standing before the church magistrate, Francis told him of his dedication to Christ and what God told him in the temple. His father accused him again of being a lazy, incompetent son. Francis looked at the witnesses in the court and said, “I am no longer the son of Bernardone, but instead I entrust myself wholly to God. I renounce everything that my earthly father ever gave me and I believe my heavenly father will provide.” With that, Francis stripped all of his clothes off and left them in a pile on the floor of the court, standing completely naked. The bishop quickly covered him and allowed him to stay in the little chapel he had been rebuilding.

Francis would regularly stop by a church and read the words of Jesus. At one point he read that Jesus did not have a place to lay his head. So he determined that Jesus was a beggar, asking for his daily bread, so Francis did the same. But what he received he never kept only for himself. Rather, in obedience to Jesus, he would share with the poor whatever he had. He always determined to give to those who had less than he did. When some men gathered around him to follow him, he told them to sell all they had and to give to the poor, to be humble and poor like Jesus was.

Francis would always give everything he had to those who were needy. He preached the gospel to those who could not hear it. Because he believed that the animals were our brothers in creation, Francis would preach to birds and wolves, encouraging them to praise God. If he received a coat, if he saw a beggar who did not have one, he gave it away.

WWJD
Jesus loved Francis and spoke to him often. Francis was able to do some miracles because of his sacrifices. Jesus loved Francis because Francis loved Jesus so much and took him at his word. However, Francis also misunderstood much of what Jesus said. He was not a scholar, but a simple believer. And for that, even though he made many mistakes, Jesus blessed Francis.

The Final Word (of men)
Francis became the most beloved Christian of his day. He refused to judge others, and so he was seen as a living saint, while not demanding that everyone live his life. Eventually his order, the Franciscans, wandered from pure poverty, and Francis resigned from leadership of the order. By the time he died, he had received from the Lord the stigmata, marks on his hands and feet, indicating unity with Jesus’ suffering.

Stories of Francis in the 12- and 1300s became as common as comic books today. Everyone knew about Francis’ super-human spirituality. Many Franciscan monks rejected the order Francis started and began their own, based on Francis’ words and life. They were called the Spirituali and they were condemned as heretics by the orthodox church for condemning that church as wealthy and arrogant. The Spirituali eventually were all killed off. But the Franciscan order developed into three orders, which still exist today.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. Luke 12:33

Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:31-33

Helpful Hint: Inspiring Others to Follow Jesus

It is not enough for the Faithful to obey God and serve Jesus alone. Rather, they led others to serve Him as well. The Faithful inspired many to dedicate themselves to Jesus, to be like the Faithful. This is how we often know about the Faithful—not by their works or their speech, but because of those who sought to be like them. Paul started churches. Anthony began a movement of monks. Peter Waldo began the Waldensian movement. Francis began the Franciscans. As we will see, Michael Sattler began the Anabaptists. Ignatius began the Jesuits. And George Fox began the Quakers. And on and on. It is not enough to have a personal relationship with God. We need to lead others to do the same. And if we inspire others to follow Jesus because of our lives, then we will be called one of the Faithful as well.

Check It Out:
The Teachings of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot
What Would Francis Do?